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ARCHIVED - Public Notice CRTC 2000-74-2

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In Decision CRTC 2000-386 issued today, the Commission approved a new national French-language specialty arts service, Télé des Arts. The Commission stated that it was exploring the possibility of licensing the service for priority digital distribution by cable distributors serving French linguistic minority communities outside Quebec.

This public notice falls within the scope of a proposed policy process initiated in March 2000 (Public Notice CRTC 2000-38) and resumed in PN 2000-74 dated 31 May 2000. The Commission invites comments from the public on an additional question it raises in the context of the proposed policy. Members of the public can also take the opportunity to submit their views during the Commission's consultations on French-language service outside Quebec commencing on 19 September. The dates and locations were announced in PN 2000-115.

1.

In PN 2000-38, the Commission called for comments on a proposed policy to increase the availability of minority official language specialty services to cable subscribers across Canada. The process was resumed in PN 2000-74.

2.

The proposed policy requirements would apply to Class 1 and Class 2 cable distributors who use digital distribution technology and operate in a market where at least 5,000 people or 10% of the market's total population have a knowledge of the minority official language. The Commission proposes to require that cable licensees distribute at least one specialty service in the minority official language for every 10 majority official language programming services that are distributed on the undertaking (both Canadian and non-Canadian).

3.

The Commission is inviting comments on an additional question relating to the Télé des Arts service. That question addresses its preliminary opinion, set out in Decision CRTC 2000-386 issued today, that Télé des Arts should be granted priority status by the afore-mentioned cable distribution undertakings. Priority status would ensure that Télé des Arts is part of the minimum offering of French-language services in markets that would be targeted by the policy, but without increasing the minimum number required.

4.

To take advantage of the public consultations on French-language services outside Quebec, which begin on 19 September, the Commission wishes to add the following question to those already raised in Public Notice CRTC 2000-74 and reiterated in Public Notice CRTC 2000-115.

In the context of the proposed policy to increase the availability of specialty services in markets where the minority language is French, should the Commission grant priority status to the distribution of Télé des Arts?

5.

The Commission will also be prepared to discuss this matter at the public hearing on 18 October 2000 and asks interveners to notify the Commission if they wish to discuss or intervene in this matter using the registration procedure set out in PN 2000-115.

Call for comments

6.

The Commission invites written comments that address the question set out in this notice. The Commission will accept comments that it receives on or before 6 October 2000.

7.

In keeping with current practices, the Commission will not formally acknowledge written comments. It will, however, fully consider all comments and they will form part of the public record of the proceeding, provided that the procedures for filing set out below have been followed.

Procedures for filing comments

8.

Interested parties can file their comments on paper or electronically. Submissions longer than five pages should include a summary.

9.

The "hard copy" should be sent to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, K1A 0N2.

10.

Parties wishing to file electronic versions of their comments can do so by email or on diskette. The Commission email address is procedure@crtc.gc.ca

11.

Electronic submissions should be in the HTML format. As an alternative, those making submissions may use "Microsoft Word" for text and "Microsoft Excel" for spreadsheets.

12.

Please number each paragraph of your submission. In addition, please enter the line ***End of document*** following the last paragraph. This will help the Commission verify that the document has not been damaged during transmission.

13.

The Commission will make comments filed in electronic form available on its web site at www.crtc.gc.ca in the official language and format in which they are submitted. This will make it easier for members of the public to consult the documents.

14.

The Commission also encourages interested parties to monitor the public examination file (and/or the Commission's web site) for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their comments.

Examination of public comments and related documents at the following Commission offices during normal business hours